University of Virginia Library

As one of the handful o
people who spent the entire
1972-73 school year in a
"temporary" triple, I somehow
find the questions of funding
and politics irrelevant to the
issue of first year admissions
and housing.

I realize that without
funding and the support of the
legislature there would be no
University. But I also realize
that the purpose for which one
attends the University,
education, is ill-served by
over-crowding in the first year
dorms.

The situation was partially
excusable last year. There was
no way that the
over-acceptance by women
could have been foreseen. There
is no excuse for consciously
offering admission to more
students when adequate
housing is unavailable. A triple
is not adequate housing.

The problems of first year
can be many. The added
"discomforts", to put it very
mildly, are unnecessary. Living
in a double room with two
other people is difficult
enough. To attempt to study
under these circumstances is
futile.

When I was offered a triple
assignment in the upperclass
dorms for next year, I was
amazed and disgusted. It
should be clear with this new
announcement of triples in the
first year dorms again, that the
housing situation is critical.

Answers can be found. I
have no doubt that if Senator
Stone, President Shannon, and
Mr. Ern had to spend nine
months together in a triple the
answers would be found
promptly.